Crasnick's Starting 9 today deals with players who have prospered in losing situations. Somehow, Berkman and Lee are on this list.
Still, Berkman and Lee capped off a decade of all-around hitting excellence with their production. It's a tribute to Berkman's craftsmanship at the plate when he can have a season that's considered a disappointment by his standards, and he still ranks 14th in the National League with a .911 OPS.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Houston shortstop Miguel Tejada also did something special this season. He's closing in on 1,578 games this decade, which would tie him with Brooks Robinson in the 1960s for the second-most games played in a decade. The record belongs to Pete Rose, who appeared in 1,604 games in the 1970s.
Here's my question. It IS a tribute to Lance that he can lead the team in Goats and still have an OPS as high as it is. But at what point do we proclaim that Berkman isn't paid to take walks. It's great to have his OPS, but Berkman needs to be an RBI guy, as well. Am I right? Or am I wrong?
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
